ENGLEWOOD, Colo.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The
Western Union Company (NYSE: WU), a leader in global payment
services, has restored Western Union Money Transfer® services
to multiple Agent locations in parts of Puerto Rico.
To support communities and families in Puerto Rico affected by Hurricane
Maria, Western Union, today activated $0 fee on money transfers from the
U.S. mainland and within Puerto Rico to active
Agent locations in Puerto Rico*. Effective immediately, for a
limited time, consumers in the U.S. can send funds fee-free from a
retail Agent location, or by using the promo code HELPPR on westernunion.com
and the Western Union mobile app.
Western Union President and CEO, Hikmet Ersek, said, “Placing currency
directly into the hands of our customers has long been a Western Union
strength, empowering people to pay for necessities during everyday life,
which becomes even more essential in times of natural, economic or
political disasters.”
Western Union transported
physical currency into Puerto Rico and held it securely until a
sizeable number of Agents were ready to service the residents impacted
by Hurricane Maria. Agent locations are currently open in Arecibo,
Bayamon, Carolina, Mayaguez, Ponce and San Juan.
As previously communicated, the Western Union Foundation made a pledge
of up to USD $80,000 to the American Red Cross in support of relief
efforts in Puerto Rico. The pledge represents an initial USD $30,000 to
be provided by the Western Union Foundation directly to the American Red
Cross and a 2:1 match on contributions from Western Union employees
around the world, up to USD $50,000.
Fee Free Donations to the American Red Cross have been activated, as
well. Consumers who want to take advantage of fee-free donations through
Western Union® Agent locations in the U.S. can donate
directly to The American Red Cross.
To donate, complete the blue Payments section on the Western Union form,
using “American Red Cross” as the Pay To recipient; “REDCROSS DC” as the
Code City, along with “Puerto Rico Relief” in the Account field.
* Due to the severity of the hurricane, some agent locations may
not be immediately operational or possess sufficient funds.
About Western Union
The Western Union Company (NYSE: WU) is a leader in global payment
services. Together with its Vigo, Orlandi Valuta, Pago Facil and Western
Union Business Solutions branded payment services, Western Union
provides consumers and businesses with fast, reliable and convenient
ways to send and receive money around the world, to send payments and to
purchase money orders. As of June 30, 2017, the Western Union, Vigo and
Orlandi Valuta branded services were offered through a combined network
of over 550,000 agent locations in 200 countries and territories and
over 150,000 ATMs and kiosks, and included the capability to send money
to billions of accounts. In 2016, The Western Union Company completed
268 million consumer-to-consumer transactions worldwide, moving $80
billion of principal between consumers, and 523 million business
payments. For more information, visit www.westernunion.com.
About The Western Union Foundation
The Western Union Foundation believes that education is one of the
surest pathways to economic opportunity. Through collaborations with
NGOs around the world, the Foundation has embarked on a five-year
mission to equip 50,000 migrants and refugees – with a focus on women
and young people – with the skills they need to thrive in the global
economy by 2020. The Foundation also partners with The Western Union
Company to rapidly respond to communities in crisis with humanitarian
relief. To date, more than $113 million has been given to fund projects
affecting more than 800,000 people in 137 countries across the globe.
The Western Union Foundation is a separate charitable corporation that
is tax-exempt under §501(c)(3) of the US Internal Revenue Code,
contributions to which are tax-deductible for US income tax purposes,
and receives support from The Western Union Company, its employees,
agents and business partners. To learn more, visit https://www.westernunion.com/blog/foundation-de/
or follow on Twitter @TheWUFoundation.
WU-G